Afraid to make too nice of a car...

[Classy]

I see many people make magnificent vehicles and then grow bored of them because they are too scared to damage them driving them... I have this emphatuation aswell... Which leads me to think maybe it would be better off to build something like a fox body that is alittle rough looking so I wouldn't be afraid of a few dings or paint damage from beating on it.

Thoughts? Experience??

[largeorangefont]

It is not an issue with the car, it's an issue with how you build the car. You need to set your own expectations before you tear into the car. If you are going to build an FD that is too nice to drive, you'll do the same thing with a fox body. You are attached to your time and effort and the experience of the build, not the car itself. If you fix, clean, paint and polish every last thing, you'll be too neurotic about damaging something. You'll shave hundreds of hours and hundreds, even thousands of dollars off your built cost and timeline by sticking with the targets you set before the build and being realistic as to what you will use the car for.

Paint stuff rattle can black instead of polishing or powder coating. Don't detail or powder coat all the parts you restore. Clean stuff, replace or rebuild parts as needed and put them back on. Make the car low maintenance, not a showpiece.

Also don't build one with too much power, you'll be scared to drive it.

My advice: Just let it go. It's just an RX7 you tore apart and put another drivetrain in. Enjoy it, because you will never have another car that performs like it again. No new cars drive or perform like a V8 RX7.

You can build a solid, bulletproof car you can enjoy all the time, it does not have to be 100% perfect asthetically. Does it really matter if all the hardware is polished stainless with anodized washers? Does it matter if all the suspension components are all powder coated?

[Cobranut]

So true.  I've had several cars that were too damn nice to drive and enjoy.    
I still have two like that, one is 12 years old and still has under 1,000 original miles, the other has under 1800 miles and I've had it on the road for 16 years.

With the RX-7.0 I plan on having a few glaring cosmetic issues fixed, but I'm NOT going to make this one a show car.
I'll keep it clean, and I won't intentionally take it out in the rain, but I won't let the mere chance of rain stop me from driving it somewhere.   It can always be washed.   

Stick to your plans.  You can build a nice car, but don't put $15K into paint, and don't over-detail the chassis and engine, and you'll still be able to have fun with it.

[atli126]

http://www.502streetscene.net/forum/showthread.php?t=181938

not sure if you can see it all. But over 6 years i have went thru basically a ground up build in a turbo 2 shell with a t56/5.3 setup that makes 330 rwhp, Crash and I have replaced all the bushings, repainted the car, put ac on it, power steering is coming next and I will occasionally put it in shows, do meets etc but I also race the hell out of it every chance I get at autox, I currently skirt the line of street/race car, but the car has a full interior, sound deadening, full stereo. If a bumper, side skirt gets broken bc of an autox cone we can always repaint it (Which will be happening soon bc they are broken now hah)I love the car but I do drive the hell out of it every chance I get!

My recommendation is not go too pretty or too full race, go full poly if you want and keep every creature comfort you can. You can always add more resonators and more power to keep the sound down too.

My car is nice, comfortable (spring rate is key) and has ac (creature comforts) etc and could always make 600 hp if i wanted to supercharge, add nitrous or turbo down the road

[Supe]

Just mow some grass and cut down a few trees with it like I did.  You stop worrying about beautification at that point 

[andrewb70]

http://www.502streetscene.net/forum/showthread.php?t=181938

not sure if you can see it all. But over 6 years i have went thru basically a ground up build in a turbo 2 shell with a t56/5.3 setup that makes 330 rwhp, Crash and I have replaced all the bushings, repainted the car, put ac on it, power steering is coming next and I will occasionally put it in shows, do meets etc but I also race the hell out of it every chance I get at autox, I currently skirt the line of street/race car, but the car has a full interior, sound deadening, full stereo. If a bumper, side skirt gets broken bc of an autox cone we can always repaint it (Which will be happening soon bc they are broken now hah)I love the car but I do drive the hell out of it every chance I get!

My recommendation is not go too pretty or too full race, go full poly if you want and keep every creature comfort you can. You can always add more resonators and more power to keep the sound down too.

My car is nice, comfortable (spring rate is key) and has ac (creature comforts) etc and could always make 600 hp if i wanted to supercharge, add nitrous or turbo down the road

Long time since you were changing brakes on your Acura in my driveway!

Andrew

[andrewb70]

Here is my thought on the subject. In 1998 I tore apart my 1970 GTO and did a full restomodification. The car made it into several magazines and eventually I did a LS swap. I don't drive that car too much because while not perfect, I am fairly paranoid about door dings.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/1402-1970-pontiac-gto-ls3-swap/

Last year I built a LS swap 1967 Cougar. The body was mostly rust free and the exterior has a ton of patina. I drive the wheels off that car and take it EVERYWHERE! Last week I drove it from WI to Memphis and it was no drama, despite going through rain and having drag radials. This car gets more attention than if I set my GTO on fire in the middle of Time Square.



Bottom line is that you have to decide how you want to use the car. If you want to drive it and not care about exterior, then don't go crazy...

Andrew

[cool]

Wheres your build thread for the cougar?

[andrewb70]

Wheres your build thread for the cougar?

Lots of places, but here is one:

http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/109464-1967-Cougar-build-(over-500-pictures-and-videos)

Andrew

[fastfalcon94]

My problem is I end up making my cars too much like race cars. I end up spending a lot of money building something that is...

1. too loud to carry a conversation inside the car
2. that will try to veer left/right with every divot in the road because of tight suspension and wide tires
3. that requires endless tuning because nothing I do is ever simple. I'll end up with a full standalone, meth, huge injectors, speed density etc..

I think I enjoy the build more than I do driving them. I use to daily drive a 3000gt. Was lowered on springs, had the boost turned up on factory turbos, a simple catback, painted calipers, and a front mount that was more for show. I could drive it anywhere. Now my vr4 is too much of a race car and I put maybe 1000 miles a year on it. I spend most of my time driving a volvo xc70 wagon that is quiet and comfy If I could do any of my car builds over again I'd definitely change the way I did things.

[largeorangefont]

My problem is I end up making my cars too much like race cars. I end up spending a lot of money building something that is...

1. too loud to carry a conversation inside the car
2. that will try to veer left/right with every divot in the road because of tight suspension and wide tires
3. that requires endless tuning because nothing I do is ever simple. I'll end up with a full standalone, meth, huge injectors, speed density etc..

I think I enjoy the build more than I do driving them. I use to daily drive a 3000gt. Was lowered on springs, had the boost turned up on factory turbos, a simple catback, painted calipers, and a front mount that was more for show. I could drive it anywhere. Now my vr4 is too much of a race car and I put maybe 1000 miles a year on it. I spend most of my time driving a volvo xc70 wagon that is quiet and comfy If I could do any of my car builds over again I'd definitely change the way I did things.

That is the situation with 90% of the people that sell their finished cars on here.

[Classy]

I love that cougar, and that is a really cool intake manifold with the dual TB's.  I really like where you went with it and have been tempted to buy a patinia'd 68-72 C10 and making it a fun truck to drive like you did the cougar.  You have the cogs in my head turning.

[andrewb70]

I love that cougar, and that is a really cool intake manifold with the dual TB's.  I really like where you went with it and have been tempted to buy a patinia'd 68-72 C10 and making it a fun truck to drive like you did the cougar.  You have the cogs in my head turning.

Glad to be an inspiration. :-)

Andrew

[Skeltic]

Sounds  to  me  like  you  need  to  learn  to  let  go,  and  rat  bag  a  car a  bit, maybe  get  a  miata to  kick around  for a  summer.  It  is  your  car  it  is  not  fine  china,  even  if  it  was , it  is  your  fine  china.
If  you  want  to  do  what  you are  describing , you  have  to  commit  to  yourself  that  driving  is  your  number  1  priority. . Commit to  you  being  a  better  driver  and  and  building  a  car  that  will help  you  with that  goal, THEN  you  will  have  the  car  you  are  wanting. Which  means  strict  repair  dead lines  that  you  MUST  make  or  you  WILL  drive  with  a  zap strap  repair.

YOU ARE  BUILDING  A  DRIVER  NOT  A  CAR


I  have  one  of  those  LS3, Hoosiers R6's Enkie wheels, BBK, traction   control , 99 ABS, coil overs,  better  seats  better  wheel, 4 out of  5  point  harness, all  things  to  help  me  be a  better  driver,   on  the  down  side my front  bumper  paint  is  cracked  and  flaking my  front  fenders  are  both  cracked  at the wheel arch,  and  the  paint  which  what  really  nice  when I  bought the  car  has  seen  better  days, but Thunder Bucket  is  a  Track day phenomenon. Sure I  would  like it  if  she  was  perfect  but  I  much  rather  she  drive  as amazing  as  she  does. Unless  you are in a  GT3  or  a  much  better  driver  then  me  I  will never  see  you in my  rear  mirror

[spacevomit]

Sounds  to  me  like  you  need  to  learn  to  let  go,  and  rat  bag  a  car a  bit, maybe  get  a  miata to  kick around  for a  summer.  It  is  your  car  it  is  not  fine  china,  even  if  it  was , it  is  your  fine  china.
If  you  want  to  do  what  you are  describing , you  have  to  commit  to  yourself  that  driving  is  your  number  1  priority. . Commit to  you  being  a  better  driver  and  and  building  a  car  that  will help  you  with that  goal, THEN  you  will  have  the  car  you  are  wanting. Which  means  strict  repair  dead lines  that  you  MUST  make  or  you  WILL  drive  with  a  zap strap  repair.

YOU ARE  BUILDING  A  DRIVER  NOT  A  CAR


I  have  one  of  those  LS3, Hoosiers R6's Enkie wheels, BBK, traction   control , 99 ABS, coil overs,  better  seats  better  wheel, 4 out of  5  point  harness, all  things  to  help  me  be a  better  driver,   on  the  down  side my front  bumper  paint  is  cracked  and  flaking my  front  fenders  are  both  cracked  at the wheel arch,  and  the  paint  which  what  really  nice  when I  bought the  car  has  seen  better  days, but Thunder Bucket  is  a  Track day phenomenon. Sure I  would  like it  if  she  was  perfect  but  I  much  rather  she  drive  as amazing  as  she  does. Unless  you are in a  GT3  or  a  much  better  driver  then  me  I  will never  see  you in my  rear  mirror

I'm aroused...